Okay, okay, I know I'm a little late posting this, but it has been a CRAZY season! Starting in October until the New Year, I have been busier then ever before, and I have all of you to thank for that! I've met so many wonderful new families & clients this year and got to photograph my return clients (and try not to be in disbelief by how big all these kiddos are getting!). Just want to give you all a little update on the season and what's coming up:

First for some awesome news: as you hopefully know, at the beginning of the season we pledged to donate a portion of all sales from October & November to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This cause is so important to me because I was diagnosed as a juvenile diabetic at a young age and I'm also a member of their Youth Leadership Committee! Not only did we meet our goal, we exceeded it by $50! Thank you so much to everyone who helped this happen!

Next, I of course have to give a shout out to all the amazing families I photographed this season. Everyone was super sweet, relaxed, and just my kind of client! Here's a few of my seasons favorites! (and if your's isn't here, don't worry it's probably still one of my faves because there was alotttttt haha!)

Our Christmas Minis were also a hit this year! This was my favorite Christmas set yet with a red and green rustic theme that included vintage sleds, a frosted tree, and lots of plaid. (In case you can't tell, I loveeee plaid!)

Now for what's coming up! We are having superrrr cute spring mini-sessions on 3 exclusive dates: March 10th (just in time for Easter), April 15th, and May 27th! Keep an eye of our Facebook and Instagram pages for when we post the official set next week, but for now here's a small sample.

It's January, so I always say now is the perfect time to update your business portrait! We offer sessions in our studio and have a full selection of color backdrops as well as outdoor scene backdrops, so we don't have to get too chilly outside.

I wanted to make a post updating everyone on the crazy spring I had and let you know what's coming up! This spring has been one of my favorite yet, I announced a new Mommy & Me Mother's Day Special that lead to some really adorable photos! Here's some from two of my favorite session!

And did I mention these sessions came with the cutest photo lockets? (I probably did because I'm in love with these lockets! haha!)

I also did a bunch of Communion Sessions this spring! I love photographing kids who are making their communion because they always look so beautiful and angelic in their dresses & veils or little suits!These photos of the lovely Ava were taken at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club! The grounds there are gorgeous and we got there just in time for the tulips!

I also caught this adorable moment between Communion girl Bella and her sister Lia!

And yet ANOTHER beautiful communion girl! Olivia looked angelic and this photo of her and her dad is one of my favorites! Who doesn't love a cute daddy daughter moment? :)

And my last session of the season was Serafina! She showed both sides of her personality at her session, taking both sweet and sporty photos!

Thank you to everyone who photographed with me this spring, you were so much fun to work with!

Now for what's coming up! This year for the 4th of July I will be giving away one free session to a military family! I'll announce the details mid June and then you'll have until July 3rd to nominate yourself or military family you love! The drawing will be held live on Facebook on July 4th! Make sure you're following my Facebook page for updates!

Second up is Garden Minis! For the first year ever I'll be having summer mini sessions! These will be kids only discounted mini sessions held at a local garden! (check me out below doing a test run with friends!) these will be on two select dates, July 15th & August 6th.

Lastly I'm hoping to do a pet session special this summer! It's still in the works but we're looking at special sessions for your furry family members! We're even trying to get a shelter in on the action as a way to give back. The sessions would be available all summer long and be available at my studio or on location.

There's so many exciting things coming up! If you have any questions about anything going on this summer let me know! I'm always happy to talk :)

What if I told you for the same price as a card at the store, you could get one made online with your photos and sent to your house for the same price? You would probably love it right?! Since making your own personalized products online can be a little confusing or overwhelming I made a step by step blog showing you how to make your own Mother's Day card on Shutterfly!

Step 1 // Go to the website and pick out your favorite card layout! They have great options for both Mom and Grandma!

Step 2 // Once you find the card you like, click the button to get started!

Step 3 // Double click the gray area to add your own photo

Step 4 // After you upload your photo you can edit or crop your it. If this screen doesn't automatically pop up you can find it by double clicking the card's photo again. This is also where you can remove the photo from the card if you change your mind.

Step 5 // After you click 'Done', then 'Next' in the upper right corner it will bring you into the inside of the card! First thing you'll want to do is toggle though the options tabs on the left to change the card shape (if applicable), inside layout, and card color/background.

Step 6 // After you decide those options you can upload more photos and write text! Double click the gray square to do these options! In the font window you can change font type, size and color. Below you'll find my finished example!

Step 7 // After you've clicked 'Next' after you've finished your card you can pick out your envelope and if you want to jazz it up a little, add a pretty envelope liner!

Step 8 // Now last but not least make sure in the upper left corner below the logo your quantity is set to one card! Sometimes it will automatically set to more. To change your quantity click the triangle next to the word each and select '1' or whatever amount you'd like.

And now you're done! The last steps will have you make and account with Shutterfly and pay for your product, but if you've ever bought anything online you should know what to do! Don't forget, all cards are on sale until May 10th so order yours asap (and so your get it in time as well!)

When discussing an upcoming portrait session with a client, one of the first questions I ask is always, "Have you thought about what background you might like"? That's because (aside from yourself) it's one of the most important elements of your portrait! There's a lot of thought that goes into picking the proper background since there are so many options that convey numerous, appropriate moods.

To help you pick the right setting for your portrait, I've broken down the main choices into three different categories: Studio, Nature, and Industrial.

Studio // Studio is the most basic option. It can fit any category of job; From makeup artist to lawyer to real estate agent, in the studio you can choose from a selection of colored backgrounds with gray & white being the most common. White gives a nice clean bright feeling while gray is an optimal option for those who want something clean & crisp, like white but not as bright. If gray and white are a little too "plain" for you, you can also pick a fun bright color! This works well for someone who has a creative or child-oriented job, like a graphic designer or daycare owner. Feel free to ask me what colors would work well for you if you choose to shoot in the studio!

Industrial // Industrial is a popular option that includes backgrounds like brick, buildings, and stone. There's a lot of great options for these in Somerville and if we schedule it right, you can fit both studio & industrial photos in your session! Walls like brick, marble, and stone are another great option for non-specific industries. They're neutral enough that most professions & genders will look good in front of them and has the perfect combination of serious & friendly. If you want to add more depth to your photo, you can do full buildings or streets in the background, which I can make 'blurry' so you are still the main focus. This type of shot works best when the building behind you relates to your job, so perhaps buildings & streets for jobs associated with real estate or a court house for lawyers or paralegals.

Nature // Nature isn't as common of an option, but is still one of my favorites! These backgrounds include flowers, trees, and grass. The job has to be right for a natural background. The best professions for this are, of course, people who work with nature & plants, creative jobs or jobs that want to show they're friendly and fun, so a lawyer or an financial advisor wouldn't be best for this.

It all comes down to what emotion you want your portrait to convey. Want to show you're serious and down to business? A studio session with a neutral color should work best for you. Want prospective clients to think you're friendly and trust you with their children? A natural or a bright colored studio session may fit you best! Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have about choosing your background. I'm always more then happy to help you with a decision; After all, it's what I do!